Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced today that the Department of Defense will not publicly release the unedited video footage of the U.S. military's September 2 strike on a suspected drug carrying boat in the Caribbean, which resulted in the deaths of two survivors. This decision comes amid bipartisan calls from Congress for transparency regarding the "double-tap" operation.
The incident involved U.S. forces conducting an initial strike on the vessel, followed by a second strike that targeted and killed survivors attempting to escape. Hegseth emphasized the classified nature of the material, stating, “Of course we're not going to release a top secret, full, unedited video of that to the general public.” He made these remarks to reporters following a closed-door briefing on Capitol Hill.
The Pentagon maintains that releasing the footage could compromise sensitive operational methods and intelligence sources. However critics, including members of both parties, argue that withholding the video raises questions about accountability in counter narcotics operations. The strike has drawn international attention, particularly from Venezuela, which claims the boat was not involved in drug trafficking.
"The safety of our personnel and the effectiveness of our missions remain our top priorities," Hegseth added. "We have provided relevant information to congressional oversight committees as required." The Department of Defense continues to review the operation internally and commits to upholding international law in all activities.